Boat Fender Types, Shapes and Applications.

Have a question about boat fenders before you make your purchase? Learn about the different types, applications and shapes of boat fenders. ...read more In the boating world, a fender is a bumper used to absorb the kinetic energy of a boat or vessel berthing against a jetty, quay wall or other vessel. Fenders are used to prevent damage to boats, vessels and berthing structures. To do this, fenders usually have high energy absorption and low reaction force. Fenders are typically manufactured out of rubber, foam elastomer or plastic. Rubber fenders are either extruded or made in a mold. The type of fender that is most suitable for an application depends on many variables, including dimensions and displacement of the vessel, maximum allowable stand-off, berthing structure, tidal variations and other berth-specific conditions. The size of the fender unit is based on the berthing energy of the vessel which is related to the square of the berthing velocity.

Historically, fenders were woven from rope in a variety of patterns. Fenders of woven rope are still used today by historic boat owners.

Yachts, small leisure craft and support vessels typically have mobile fenders which are placed between the boat and the dock as the boat approaches the dock. Docks and other marine structures, such as canal entrances and bases of bridges, have permanent fenders placed to avoid damage from boats. Old tires are often used as fenders in such places.

If you've been boating, you are probably aware that it's inevitable to encounter situations where your boat bumps into something like another boat, a quay wall, or while docking. When tragedy strikes from running into something, it can create minor to major damage resulting in having to repair the damage which can become very costly and time consuming. Boat fenders provide a safety barrier between the boat and the un-wanted object that is bumping into the boat. At one point in time ropes or old tires were found hanging down the side of the boat to protect against impact. However, with today’s technology, fenders are not only more visually pleasing than a rope and an old tire, but are designed from hours of testing and science to ensure your boats has the best protecting from the damaged caused by running into a wall, a boat or a dock.

Fenders come in a multitude of shapes, functions and applications:

Types of Fenders

Ship to Quay Fenders

Ship to quay fenders are found at ports, docks, quay walls and berthing structures. They are designed to absorb the energy when of a berthing boat. These type of fenders are not found on boats, but instead, our found on the walls to prevent damage to the berthing boat.

There are several types of these marine fenders

Cylindrical

Arch

Cell

Cone

Pneumatic

Foam Elastomer

Ship-to-Ship

Ship-to-ship fenders are specifically designed to prevent damage from two boats colliding.

These type of fenders include :

Pneumatic

Foam Elastomer

Boat and Vessel

Boat Fenders are the most common fenders found hanging from recreational boats, tugboats, passenger boats and yachts.

These type of fenders include :

D-Fenders

Square

Wing

Keyhole

Foam Elastomer

Shapes, Functions and Applications

Cylindrical Fenders

A cylindrical fender is a very common fender used when you want to make sure the berthing of your boats is safe from damage from the dock or port. This type of fender is usually installed by the dock owner or maintenance man to the walls that are bumped into while berthing.

Arch Fenders

Arch fenders are normally used by small to midsize boats or vessels, Arch Fenders are a similar to cylindrical fenders, except for they perform better.

Cell Fenders

Cell fenders are the biggest fenders made of rubber from a mold. Cell fenders are extremely sturdy offering minimal reaction. They can handle higher impact and null more energy from any direction.

Cone Fenders

A cone fender is a cell fender with improvement to the design and functionality. You will find these types of fenders where high-tide is present and typically spaced evenly apart with a panel to distribute the brunt force of a berthing boat.

Pneumatic Fenders

Pneumatic fenders are used for a protective barrier between two ships at sea exchanging, giving or receiving goods. They have a low reaction force and low deflection. This type of fender will typically comply with the ISO 17357 standards. It is also called Yokohama fender or floating fender.

Hydro-Pneumatic Fenders

Hydro-Pneumatic Fenders were designed for Submarines. The design depends on the hull, berthing methods, energy absorption, type of submarine and jetty design. They are able to remain in the up-right position while in water to prevent the fender from tipping over and compromising its usefulness.

Foam Elastomer Fenders

Similar to a pneumatic fender, foam elastomer fenders core is made of a Polyethylene foam core surrounded by nylon or Kevlar skin. This fender will not lose its structural integrity when punctured.

D-Fenders

D-fenders are usually seen around smaller jetties and used on vessels. Engineered with compression molded material.

Square Fenders

Similar to D-fenders, Square fenders are generally used on Tug boats, boats and ships.

Wing Fenders

Similar to D-fenders, wing fenders withstand the harsh elements from sea water and are very easy to install.

Keyhole Fenders

Keyhole fender will be found on Tug boats, boats and ships. They are extremely easy to install and offer maximum protection to Tug and Ferries.

Tug Boat Fenders

You guessed it- Tug boat fenders are used for Tug boats. They are very comprised of highly resistant rubber with great vitality properties. These types of fender are mostly found with small boat and tug owners, and are sea water damage resistant.

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Boat Fender Lines

Boat fender lines are extremely important if you want your fender to work and protect your boat from impacting another boat, while berthing or docked. ...read more Fender lines are pieces of rope or vinyl that secures the fender while hanging down the side of the boat or quay wall. Without a fender line, the fenders will not be able to be attached to the boat.

Fender lines come in a wide variety of styles- to fit your needs, colors- to make sure they match the color scheme of the boat, and material make-up. Most boat fender lines will come in 6 to 9 foot length offering durability and long-lasting use and strength.

Here at iboats, we offer a wide variety of fender lines for every type of boat or fender. If you're looking for loc or twisted type lines, you can find them here on iboats. We carry Seasense, Unicord, TaylorMade, Seachoice and many more to choose from.

Types of Boat Fender Lines offered:

Fender Loc Lines

Loc lines offer an adjustable and excellent way to secure boat fenders. They have a very handy built-in loop that does not require tying a knot. This type of line works with any type of fender.

Twisted Fender Lines

This type of fender is twisted line with a diameter of 3/8" and is designed for any type of fender. Twisted line have a small eye-loop at the end to securely attach your fender and a sealed tip at the other end to prevent fraying.

Fender Lines

Made of high quality Nylon Braided and 3-Strand Twisted line. These lines are made of the same material as our dock and anchor lines and come with two lines per package.

Seachoice Fender Lines

Seachoice lines are made of a double braided nylon and comes with two lines in a package. These lines are sure to keep the fender between the boat and the object. read less

Making a Fender Board

Use of fender boards for a boater's 3,500 mile journey on the Down East circle route. One of the things we will need on our Down East trip are fender boards to keep our boat from rubbing on barnacle-covered pilings at docks, when tied to another boat like a rough-sided fishing trawler or when we are along a rough cement wall...like those you find in some locks on the Erie Canal and locks on the St, Lawrence River. ...read more

So after doing some online research I decided to make two 6 foot long fender boards using 4 inch diameter schedule 40 PVC pipe. (I considered schedule 80 pipe but think that would be too heavy and might crack more easily under pressure than the slightly flexible schedule 40. I decided on these dimensions based on our Pursuit boat being 36 feet long (including the bow pulpit) and weighing about 18-20,000 lbs. depending on the amount of fuel, water, people and stuff onboard.

I will tie two fenders to each of the two PVC pipes, to hold the fenders in place so they don't role up or sideways as the boat moves some from waves, wind and tides. The trick was to decide how to attach the lines to the PVC so as to hold the contraption in place along the side of the boat while NOT having any of the lines go all the way around the PVC pipe. Any line that were to go all the way around the PVC pipe would be rubbed severely between the PVC pipe and the piling, cement wall or other hard and rough object, and that rubbing would quickly cut the rope in two.

The answer was to drill holes through the pipe, both to hold the fender board in place along the side of the boat and also to hold the fenders securely to the PVC pipe. The pictures show how this looks as I was making it, and then the finished product, both with and without the fenders attached.

By using this design I feel that we can easily and quickly remove the fenders from the pipe when the fender boards are not needed. The fenders can then be stored in the stainless steel fender holders from TaylorMade that I have along the railings and the PVC pipe with ropes attached can be stowed along the gunnel, on top of the hard top above the bridge, or in the stern on the platform by the engines.

Fender boards in use going through our first set of locks on the Hudson River:

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Fender Locks

Fender locks are another way to secure you boat fenders to the boat without having to deal with stringing the extra line to secure it down. The locks are mounted to the side of the boat, such that, ...read more the length of rope is much shorter making it much easier to work with.

Fender locks come in a varitey of material such as: stainless steel, chorme plated Zinc, Nylon and carbon fiber. Some of them are fixed, squeeze tabbed or locking. They are built to withstand the rigors events taken place when the boat fender is doing its job to protect the boat from collision. A tough fender isn't so tough with a weak lock.

Here at iboats, we offer fender locks from several manufactures at a great price. We carry Perko, Taylor Made, Dock Edge, Seasense and many more. some of our product lines have the option to choose a color to ensure you maintain the color sheme of the boat. read less